Writing about the images on her blog, 3AW DJ Dunleavy, who is known as 'The Queen of Melbourne radio', said: "Nigella, like it or not, you're a beacon for women from all walks of life.

"If you want us to buy your books and watch your shows on how to run our kitchens, then we need you to make a stand on domestic violence."

The radio presenter also appeared to hit out at Nigella for tweeting a picture "about the same time the pictures went viral on the internet".

The tweet was actually posted at 1pm on Saturday June 15 - several hours before the pictures were even printed.

Dunleavy wrote: "Why, at about the same time the pictures went viral on the internet, did Nigella post a picture of a buttered, toasted bagel on her official Twitter page, as though nothing else was on her mind but food?

"That’s not the response we were after, Nigella. We think you are strong, beautiful and successful. We imagine your home is warm and smells of cinnamon, and if we dropped in we’d get a hug and a feed.

"We don’t like to think of you cowering from a thug. A man so boldly abusive he had no qualms about attacking you in public."

Dunleavy's comments have disgusted listerners who branded them "shameful and crude".

Sandra wrote: "How sad to think that by boycotting this women will give her the help and support she deserves. It is plain to see you have led your life with blinkers. The hardest thing a battered women can do IS GET OUT OF THE SITUATION. Another radio personality has just been sacked for a lot less than your stupid comment. You deserve sacking."

David Sanders said: "What shamefully crude words these are Dee Dee. They reveal everything about you and nothing about what you're commenting on. NO ONE has the right to tell someone else how they should respond to traumatic situations. All you're doing is making a bad situation worse."

Helen posted: "Dee Dee, you need to read some articles on the psychology of abusers and the reality of how domestic violence plays out, and why people stay. This is a very ignorant article and to put the responsibility onto the victim would add insult to injury, if she came across it."

Furious Melinda said: "Unless you have walked in the shoes of a woman hit by her husband you should keep comments to yourself."

Tam blasted: "How dare you make such a comment. Instead of causing more issues for Nigella, it might be nice to support her in her hour of need. Really think people like you should be removed from the media."

Marjoire Richmond said: "Dee Dee, your opinion is extremely offensive. We do not know how she was feeling at that particular instant but Nigella must deal with this in her own way. How dare you be so judgemental."

Ms Lawson has not commented on the pictures but this afternoon, her husband, Charles Saatchi, described them as a "playful tiff".

Breaking his silence the art collector admitted the astonishing pictures published in the Sunday People are "horrific" but says they "give a far more drastic and violent impression of what took place".

He claims the couple were having an "intense debate" and that he "held Nigella’s neck repeatedly while attempting to emphasise my point".